Colegio de San Juan de Letran is hoping against hope that Fran Yu will get to play his last-ever collegiate game on Sunday.
The school appealed the one-game suspension of the NCAA Season 95 Finals MVP that he will serve on Game Three.
Knights assistant coach Jarren Jarencio announced the development during Tuesday’s edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“Ang nakalagay po kasi dun intention ‘yun po ‘yung sinasabi na disqualifying foul. So knowing Fran Yu naman, hindi naman siya dirty player,” said Jarencio.
“Pero nabasa ko ‘yung letter na papa-appeal, sinasabi daw eh bigyan ulit ng chance, since parang ‘di naman intention talaga.”
Yu was slapped a disqualifying foul during the second quarter of Game Two last Sunday.
After a Robi Nayve miss, Louie Sangalang grabbed the rebound before Mark Sangco was called for an over-the-back foul.
As Sangco was moving back, he got hit in the face by a Yu elbow.
A disqualifying foul automatically merits a one-game suspension in collegiate basketball.
Jarencio, son of NorthPort head coach Pido, hopes that they will have Yu back to even the playing field.
“Mas okay po pag makakapaglaro siya, pero since nga napagusapan kahapon. Na-expect namin na di siya makakapaglaro. So again ‘yung rotation namin, defensive plans namin, in-adjust na namin siya kahapon; pati sa mga offense namin,” said Jarencio as they will have Kyle Tolentino and Kobe Monje back as well.
“Para sa akin kaya siguro nag sulat ng letter of appeal para po ma-lift ‘yung suspension para ‘yung game three… compare niyo both teams and mga players mas maganda kung patas talaga maglalaban eh.”